The bead series Shortcuts produce a smaller, more delicate silhouette. Once sewn into the seam this gives the effect of a ‘bead like’ detail popping up and floating individually along the seam line.
The distinctive quality of the bead series is that the bead trim is sewn in-between two seams. Each bead Shortcut has a ‘sew-in’ line indicating where the Sewer places the trim. (The Shortcut also has dots along the ‘sew-in’ line to further aid in marking for precision placement)
Between each bead is a recess that sits below the ‘sew-In’ line. This recess is used to manipulate how the trim curves or aligns with any pattern. The bead series does not come with ‘curve’ Shortcuts as the straight guide can be curved and manipulated by nicking under the recess, nicking-in allows the trim to collapse inwards or outwards and once sewn in place the recess can be cut off entirely.
Each bead Shortcut has a recommended stitch length and visual number of stitches for sewing each recess.
Bead Series - Shortcut Features
Mint Series
The mint silhouette is a three-bead motif that has a ‘clover leaf ’like quality. The
main middle bead stands at 18mm above the sew-in line and the two small side
beads have a slight squared off edge. Competent skills in free motion
sewing are required to maintain a smooth fluid stitch when navigating around
each ‘clover’ like curve. This bead silhouette is very forgiving, once the trim
is turned through the overall effect has great impact even if some beads are
not sewn as accurately.
Specifications
Mint #1 Straight
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 342mm
- Height: 65mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Free Motion Embroidery
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Free Motion
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Sewing Shortcuts Lesson 2
Mint #2 Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 133mm
- Height: 133mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Free Motion Embroidery
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Free Motion
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video -Sewing Shortcuts Lesson 2
Mint #3 Inverted Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 130mm
- Height: 130mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Free Motion Embroidery
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Free Motion
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Sewing Shortcuts Lesson 2
Mint #4 Simple Pivot Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 92mm
- Height: 92mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Free Motion Embroidery
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Free Motion
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Sewing Shortcuts Lesson 2
Mint #5 The Odd One Out
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 78mm
- Height: 81mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Free Motion Embroidery
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Free Motion
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Sewing Shortcuts Lesson 2
Mint #6 Poke & Press
Instructional Video - Sewing Shortcuts Lesson 2
Navy Series
The Navy silhouette is a single shallow small bead with a wide flat top standing only 12mm from the baseline. Competent skills are required given this scallop’s curvature and the precision required for tight turning. A stitch length setting of #2 is used to keep the stitches consistent and tight, and to best support the structure of the small bead when turned through. The inverted corner is a mirrored ¾ bead and requires accuracy when curving the focal point of the centre curve. The corner shortcut also needs precision when creating an almost full oval bead silhouette.
Specifications
Navy #1 Straight
Specifications
- Difficulty: Beginner
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 283mm
- Height: 58mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Here
Navy #2 Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 90mm
- Height: 90mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Here
Navy #3 Inverted Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 144mm
- Height: 144mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Here
Navy #4 Simple Pivot Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 110mm
- Height: 110mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Here
Navy #5 The Odd One Out
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 58mm
- Height: 72mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 2
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 2mm
Instructional Video - Here
Navy #6 Poke & Press
Instructional Video - Here
Pearl Series
The Pearl silhouette is a single tall bead with half-circle shape reflecting its namesake ‘Pearl, it stands 20mm in height from the baseline. A stitch length setting of #3 is required to sew this silhouette. The longer length of stitch in combination with slow ‘pace’ turning requires competent skills to achieve the best results for a smooth half circle finish. A strict seam allowance of 3mm is required so the shape can withstand ‘nicking in’ around the half circle, preventing it from tearing through when turned through.
Specifications
Pearl #1 Straight
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 283mm
- Height: 66mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 3
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 3mm
Instructional Video - Here
Pearl #2 Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 126mm
- Height: 126mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 3
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 3mm
Instructional Video - Here
Pearl #3 Inverted Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 126mm
- Height: 126mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 3
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 3mm
Instructional Video - Here
Pearl #4 Simple Pivot Corner
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 117mm
- Height: 117mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 3
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 3mm
Instructional Video - Here
Pearl #5 The Odd One Out
Specifications
- Difficulty: Competent
- 3mm High Grade Cast Acrylic
- Width: 58mm
- Height: 73mm
Machine Settings
- Foot: Open Toe Presser (best), or
- Foot: Button Hole Presser (large window)
- Stitch length: 3
- Stitch type: Straight Stitch
- Seam allowance: 3mm
Instructional Video - Here
Pearl #6 Poke & Press
Instructional Video - Here